Senior EPMA Pharmacist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. To be the Senior Pharmacist in the development of the Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) system and other pharmacy systems.

2. To use clinical pharmacy experience and knowledge to contribute to the design of new ways of working with electronic systems and processes to ensure maximum levels of safety and quality.

3. To promote new ways of working and support the resolution of clinical pharmacy risks and issues that could be generated by the transition from the current to the future state; working closely with the project implementation team.

4. To support in developing the electronic formulary held within the EPMA system; including the initial setting up of the electronic formulary and maintaining it after project completion.

5. To assist in developing policies and procedures to ensure safe medication practice with EPMA.

6. To support the Lead Pharmacist and the project team on the development, implementation and on-going management of the EPMA system to ensure delivery of a high level of patient safety and quality of care, efficient use of staff resource and cost effective prescribing.

7. To support the Lead Pharmacist in developing EPMA as a vehicle to effectively capture and communicate prescribing information to patients and healthcare professionals across all sectors.

8. To develop alerts for prescribing and administration of medicines under EPMA in response to serious incidents and patient safety alerts.

9. To liaise with relevant specialist clinical pharmacists to identify how best EPMA services can be utilised to meet patient needs and manage risk.

10. To support Trust and local initiatives to reduce EPMA risks related to medicines use and optimisation.

11. To support the Lead Pharmacist in developing and implementing contingency plans to ensure patient safety and service delivery are maintained during system downtime, or in the event of system failure, and that timely system recovery is facilitated. This will include the development of a management and communication strategy to users during system downtime.

Staff Training

1. To develop and deliver EPMA information training packages to professional groups including nurses, doctors, pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals involved in the operation of EPMA.

2. To identify the training and development needs of all pharmacy staff.

3. To support pharmacy staff in utilising the full benefits of an EPMA system including demonstrating new initiatives and developments as they arise.

4. To deliver education and training to other healthcare staff as required.

5. To undertake CPD to ensure that knowledge is continually updated in the field of EPMA and pharmacy training and development.

6. To arrange relevant departmental meetings that will enable staff to be brought up to date on current issues and to address staff development needs in relation to EPMA.

Clinical Services & Patient Care

1. To participate in the front-line provision of Pharmacy Services.

2. To act as a clinical role model for other pharmacists within the department and demonstrate the ability to provide a service that ensures the safe, clinically effective and cost efficient use of drugs and the ability to check clinically screened dispensed prescriptions.

3. To liaise with other senior pharmacy staff to ensure the effective provision of EPMA services.

4. To demonstrate an intuitive grasp of situations based on deep tacit understanding.

5. To demonstrate advanced level of clinical reasoning and judgement.

Governance, Information & Data Management

1. To support in the development, implementation and monitoring of the impact of EPMA on patient safety.

1. To participate in the development of appropriate reports from EPMA for management information, patient care and financial remuneration.

1. To regularly design, develop and undertake audits to improve EPMA and to ensure that all legal, professional and service requirements are met.

Workforce

1. To act as a specialist practitioner/role model in the field of EPMA.

1. To participate in teaching for doctors, nurses and pharmacy staff.

Communications and Relationships

1. To communicate with the multidisciplinary healthcare team (doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, ward managers, and site practitioners), to intermediate care, general practice support and community pharmacists in the provision of medicine related information and assessment of patients treatment.

1. To work with appropriate staff to support development of services and facilitate the implementation of strategies for education and training of staff throughout the Trust.

1. To demonstrate good communication skills as the role liaises with a wide variety of people within the Trust, including IT staff, project team, multidisciplinary team members and all pharmacy staff.

1. To liaise with external bodies including System C, local CCGs, regional pharmacy services, and necessary pharmacy networks.

1. The post-holder will be required to communicate clearly and sensitively about patient medication issue both internally and externally.

1. To provide training on medication related issues, policies, guidelines and service developments to pharmacy colleagues, nursing and medical staff, ranging from one on one communication to more formal presentations.

General

1. To maintain current professional knowledge and keep abreast of relevant developments.

2. To maintain a Continuing Professional Development portfolio.

3. To develop links with other departments and professionals within the Trust to ensure multidisciplinary working.

4. To participate in the rota for Dispensary Pharmacist cover when needed. This includes:

a. To clinically screen prescriptions in the dispensary to ensure all medication is suitable for the patient [i.e. check allergy status, correct dosage taking into account patient parameters and drug interactions.] In addition, for discharge, check against the original prescription for in-patient drugs for any unintentional changes or omissions. For any prescriptions where there are queries then the Prescriber will be contacted to ensure the patient receives the correct medication.

b. To undertake final accuracy check of dispensed items and place in the correct area for collection and/or delivery.

5. To undertake any other duties as may be reasonably requested by the Chief Pharmacy Information Officer.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

• Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Evidence of continuing professional development

• Evidence of post registration education
• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy/Pharmacy practice or equivalent or relevant experience.

Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability to identify and prioritise developments in Formulary and medicines management
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex clinical information to make sound judgements where there is a range of facts and

• Knowledge of the principles of project management.
• Knowledge of ePMA systems.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of undertaking formulary work.
• Demonstrable experience in guidelines/ policies development.
• Demonstrable experience in supervising others.

• Experience in delivering education and training.
• Demonstrable experience of coordinating and leading on clinical audit

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name

North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

Address

North Middlesex University Hospital

Sterling Way

London

N18 1QX

https://www.northmid.nhs.uk/